Vallejo grey primer

[Dave1973]

ive got a 200ml bottle of this, along with their own brand airbrush thinner.


I tried using it, and I found that it covered ok-ish, but once left to dry overnight, painting acrylics on top, brush or airbrush, there seemed to be very little adhesion.


I tried using Tamiya acrylic thinner to it, no difference, and enamel thinner just made it sticky for ages.


Am I doing something wrong? Or should I junk the Vallejo and buy some proper primer?

 

[dubster72]

Oh Dave, you've opened up a big can of worms now!


I don't use Vallejo primer, I'm perfectly happy with my Poundshop stuff. However, other's will sing the virtues of all kinds of other primers - especially the new unpronounceable stuff from Badger


Whatever you do though, don't mix acrylic & enamel products - its a recipe for disaster!

 

[Dave1973]

Hmm. I might just say to heck with it, and get some mr surfacer.


I've got a fair few pots of Tamiya acrylics, and Humbrol weathering, washes, and some Vallejo air (only 5)


But I've also got a fishing box full of Humbrol, 3/4 of them are used, the rest are new. But they're all enamels, so I'm lost, I can't put the two together on a model can I?


I've got some awesome drab armoured colours brand new in the Humbrol enamel, oh what should I do?

 

[dougie]

I have used the Vallejo with no issues, I use it hapilly where I will only be putting acrylics on top and it wont see too much handling, I would use a lacquer based primer elsewhere mainly because I use zero paints on the body and they are not compatible with acrylic ones. I would say I needed vallejo thinner through a 0.2 needle and laurie used flow improver but I would also suggest always using the branded thinner as 9/10 times its going to do a better job.


Someone else can say whether or not the mr surfacers are smellier and worse for health - I don't know!

 

[dubster72]

Well when I said don't mix the two, I meant actually mixing them - as in your example of Vallejo primer with enamel thinners.


As to using them on the same model, as long as the paint is fully cured there shouldn't be any problem.


I've combined Humbrol & Xtracolor enamels with Tamiya & Vallejo acrylics.


Probably the best primers are Tamiya Fine Surface Primer & Mr Surfacer 1200. However these are lacquer based & smell very strong, so do it outdoors or in a well ventilated room with a mask on.

 

[papa 695]

I use it all the time Dave I just spray it from the bottle no thinning at all with no problems

 

[dougie]

I thought I might add... I sprayed some this morning with a 0.6mm needle and 10 drops primer to 2 drops flow agent. The primer went on beautifully and us now rock solid, I cannot scratch it off with my nail and it's lovely and smooth.


Did you mix the bottle well? You may think I'm taking the mickey but vallejo is very hard to mix, if settles like hell. I put a stirring stick in the bottle and mixed it all up scraping the sides and bottom before shaking the hell of it. If I just shake the bottle I could be there for 2 mins and I'm not sure it's always fully mixed. Need to put some ball bearings in the bottle.





I honestly think that 99% of the problems people have with vallejo are to do with the prep or mixing of the paint.

 

[Dave1973]

I'll give it another go on some scrap, it's the 200ml bottle, so I guess I need to get my little one to do the shakey shake!


You might be right with that as well, as even though I thought I'd shaken it up, the primer actually came out white. Supposed to be grey!!

 

[Laurie]

Adhesion may be the clue Dave.


But first Acrylics comes in two forms, in general, water based and lacquer based. If you mix the two you


are in trouble. Ok to coat one on the other provided the undercoat is properly cure.


Adhesion. I wet an dry all with a 1200 or 1500 paper used wet.. Gives a good base. And or clean with IPA


which will eliminate all grease from the hand and from the manufacture of the plastic pieces.


Leave the Vallejo primer for 24 hours to let it cure. One way is to mist coat the primer (thin say 25% with


Vallejo thinners) leave for an hour or so then give a full coat no thinners. Best Needle/nozzle size is


.4 or .35 I have found with say 20PSI.


Vallejo top coat. Mist coat as for primer then a full coat say 2 hours after then leave 24 hours before doing


anything else to the surface of the finished top coat. Although Vallejo says you can ehnace drying times


with a hairdryer best to all ow the paint to cure at room temperature.


If that does not work then there is something wrong with your paint batch. Most important thing, to avoid


omplete disaster, do not mix enamel, lacquer or water based thinners.


The above always gives me perfect results. You can use water with Vallejo paints. But Vallejo thinners has


agents which have "stickabilty" and also help the paint successfully through the airbrush. If you pace a drop


of water on a top it produces a rounded at the sides effect which keeps its thickness. Place a drop of Vallejo


thinners in the same way and it spreads out. You will also see the slightly goo result after its has evapourated.


Laurie

 

[Laurie]

Forgot. I just give the bottle a 5 sec shake. If you tip the bottle end up (best with cap on ) you will


or should see a clean plastic bottom. Not as nice or as friendly as the human female kind but welcome.


Laurie

 

[Dave1973]

Thanks Laurie,


I have the Vallejo airbrush thinners, which came with the primer, so I'm assuming I should use that?


Or should I try water?


I'll look see what the airbrush pressure is and nozzle needle size

 

[Dave1973]

Right, I e got .2, a .3, and a .5 needle.


The compressor is set to 25psi. Which needle should I use?


The Vallejo primer is polyurethane primer, and the thinner is Vallejo model air. Are they ok?

 

[dougie]

I'd say .5 with primer. You shouldn't need to run but if you do use the proper thinners say 1 drop to every 5, it really shouldn't need much or any.


Also I forgot to say... Don't expect paint to go on in one go its lots of thin coats letting them flash off or visibly dry between coats the thinner they go on the quicker they dry

 

[Dave1973]

Top man doigie! Thanks!

 

[dougie]

Top man doigie! Thanks!

But did it work?, Laurie is the master, I'm sure I learned most vallejo tips among others from him. He is an institution haha.


Good man Laurie.

 

[Laurie]

.5 as Dougie says will be OK. With a 20% thinning you may get away with a .3.


What airbrush are you using Dave ?


In the end it is best to experiment and see what works for your set up. Never used water.


Vallejo thinner has all the ingredients in it that the paint has. Thin with water and you


upset that balance. Polyurethene primer is first class. Actually assume that it is acrylic


polyurethene as that is the best. Thinners should be Vallejo 71.161. which is specially


produced for airbrushing. It has a helpful lubricator in it.


Just to say that all Vallejo products are compatible one to the other. The difference is


that they are made for specific use.


Pressure. I use about 15psi. But you just get used to using the equipment and the paint


products in your own way. best is to get an old plastic water bottle and just spend session


using different needles and PSI. Pays huge dividends.


Keep your airbrush moving back and forwards always the same distance from the object.


Perhaps 6" but circumstances do dictate. I chuck rules out of the window and make my


own preferences up but they do give a starting point. If you dawdle and do not keep


moving you will build up paint curtains which make drips.


Good fun all of this Dave but it is worth preservering and practising to get great


finishes which give great satisfaction.


Laurie

 

[Laurie]

But did it work?, Laurie is the master, I'm sure I learned most vallejo tips among others from him. He is an institution haha.
Good man Laurie.

Ha ha. You little devil Dougie.

 

[dave]

I use the Vallejo polyurethane primer with a 0.35mm nozzle unthinned with no problems. You do need to give it a good shake before starting, if you look you will see a darker layer settled out at the bottom once it has stood for a few days.

 

[Dave1973]

But did it work?, Laurie is the master, I'm sure I learned most vallejo tips among others from him. He is an institution haha.
Good man Laurie.

I won't know till today buddy, I was in bed asking last night!

 

[BarryW]

Totally agree with Laurie. Vallejo Primer can work well and uit results in a really smooth tight surface that helps show up any flaws to be corrected.


One thing to add.


When correcting any flaws leave it at least 48 hours so it really cures well to make sure the primer 'feathers' when you sand it.


I have now moved over the the unpronouceable Badger primer http://www.barwellbodyworks-shop.com/144-primer-under-coat?


It is excellent and can be sanded soon after spraying. Please note though, this too needs a surface clean of grease so please make sure you wipe then plastic with ipa before applying. I did not do so on the Swordfish and it peeled in a couple of places, the good news is that as it covers so well with a thin coat and sands so well it was really easy to correct.